Alarm-clock.



Z'. KARDOS.

ALARM CLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 21. 1915.

l l 90,770. Patented July 11,1916.

. 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Z. KARDOS.

ALARM CLOCK.

APPLlcATxoN msn Nov.27.1915.

1,190,770. Patented Ju1y11,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

3513 1Mb flttozuc y UNITED STATES PATENT QlFIlICE..v

ZOLTN KARDOS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ALARM-CLOCK.

T 0 all 'whom t may concern Be it known that I, ZOLTN Karnes, a citizen of Hungary, and a resident'of the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Alarm- Clocks, of which the following is a specification accompanied by drawings.

My invention relates to alarm clocks, and

particularly to means for permitting thek sounding of the alarm in a number of different ways.

One object of my invention is to provide such a mechanism which shall be simple and inexpensive `in manufacture, and at the same time reliable and eflieient in operation.

Another object of my invention is to provide such a mechanism which may be applied to alarm clocks of the ordinary type, with but slight changes in the mechanism thereof.

Another object of my invention is to provide means whereby the user of an alarm clock may adjust the alarm sounding means to effect the sounding of the alarm in almost an)7 desired manner.

It often happens that a person after being awakened by the sounding of an alarm clock, goes to sleep again, and it is therefore desirable that means be provided for a second ringing of the alarm in order to again awaken him. Also ysome persons desire, after first being awakened, to deze off for a certain length of time before arising. Some persons may desire but a short nap between the first sounding of the alarm and their arising, while others may desire a longer nap. In order to accommodate all persons who use alarm clocks, it is therefore necessary not only to provide means for the second sounding ofthe alarm subsequent to the first sounding of the alarm, but also to provide means for adjusting the time period elapsing between the first and second soundings of the alarm. My invention provides these means, as will hereinafter be del scribed. It may be also that the third sounding` of the alarm subsequent to the second sounding of the alarm will be found desirable by some persons, and I have therefore describedr means whereby this may be accomplished.

In addition to the plurality of soundings of the alarm as above indicated, I have found it desirable to provide the alarm clock with additional means for effecting Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led November 2 Patented July 11, 1916.

7, 1915. Serial No. 63,756.

the sounding of the alarm in a still different manner, for example, I have provided means whereby an intermittent alarm may be sounded, and also means for sounding a single, continuous alarm. I also provide a device for adjusting the parts so that the alarm of the desired character may readily be selected by the user.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of the frame and dial of an ordinary alarm clock with my improvements applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a rear view with the rear frame removed and parts broken a Jay; Fig. 8 is a front view of the setting disk and controlling cam; Fig. l is a per-Y spective view of a restraining lever; Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the time wheel and the supporting means for the same; Fig. (3 shows one manner of transmitting motion from the time wheel to ali-adjacent gear; Fig. 7 is a rear view similar to Fig 2, but showing a slightly modiied construction; Fig. S is a side view of Fig. 7; and Fig. 9 is a partial plan view of Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings, 10 indicates the frame of the clock. In this frame is rotatably supported the arbor 11, to one end of which is connected the thumb nut 12. The time wheel 13 is slidably and rotatably mounted adjacent the forward end of the arbor 11, as shown in Fig. 1. rThis time wheel is operated in the usual manner from the time train, and is so arranged that it rotates at a relatively slow rate, for example, once in twelve or twenty-four hours. In accordance with the usual and well-known construction of alarm clocks, the time wheel 13 is normally restrained from forward movement upon its supporting arbor by the pin 14 secured to this arbor, which pin abuts against the hub 15 of the time wheel. The hub 15 is, however, provided with a recess 1G, which is adapted to register with the pin 111 at some point in the revolution of the wheel depending upon the adjustment of the pin 14, to permit the forward movement of the time wheel 13 into the position illustrated in Fig. 5, and the consequent sounding of the alarm. The adjustment of the pin la1 is effected in the usual manner with the thumb nut 12.

The striker 17, which strikes against the bell or gong to sound the alarm, is actu-ated by the escapement wheel 18, which co-acts with the pawls 19, 20 in the usual manner. This escapement wheel is operated from some suitable spring whenever the wheel 13 is allowed to move forward into the position shown in Fig. 5, as above described.

rIhe above construction and operation is substantially the same as that of practically all alarm clocks, and constitutes in itself no part of my present invention.

In addition to the usual means for restraining the operation of the escapement wheel 1S until the forward movement of the wheel 13,-I provide additional restraining means and controlling means therefor, which I will now describe.

As shown in Fig, 2, the pivoted lever 21 is normally pressed by some suitable spring means, such as the spring 22 into the path of movement of the depending arm 23,'

which is connected to the escapement pawls 19, 20 and the striker 17 to prevent the operation of the escapement mechanism. rIhis lever 21 carries a pin or follower 24, as shown in Fig'. t, which is adapted to cooperate with a controlling cam 25 mounted on a shaft 26 in the frame 10. This cam 25 is connected through the gear 27 mounted on the shaft 26 with the gear 28. The gear 28 preferably has a bevel gear 29 integral therewith and in mesh with one face of double beveled pinion 30, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The time wheel 13 is also preferably provided with a bevel gear 31, which, upon the forward movement of the wheel 13 is adapted to mesh with the other face of pinion 30, and thus effect the operation of the controlling cam 25. Any other suitable means for transmitting motion from the time wheel 13 to the cam shaft 26, may be provided. Such means Vmay include, for example, a pin gear, such as is shown at in Fig'. 6 for cooperation with time wheel 13 and gear 28. The several 'gears are so proportioned that the controlling cam operates at the desired speed. In this particular case, assuming that the wheel 13 rotates once in twelve hours, the controlling cam 26 will rotate once in two hours. The particular rate of rotation of the controlling cam will depend, however, upon the particular charI acter of the alarm which it is desired te sound.

As clearly shown in Fig. 3, the controlling cam 25 is provided with a plurality of pro* A jections, 32, 32a, 32h, 32C, etc., which are adapted to cooperate with the follower 24 to hold the lever 21 out of the path of arm 23, and thus permit the operation of the escapement mechanism, and the sounding of the alarm. The speed of rotation of the cam 25 being constant, whenever it is operated, the length of any alarm thus sounded will be proportional to the length of the surface of thefactive projection, and the time period elapsing between any two alarms will be proportional to the peripheral distance between the corresponding projections. In

the example illustrated, I have shown the surface of projection 32a of such length that it will hold the lever 2l out of the path of arm 23 and permit the ringing of the alarm 'for ten seconds,- after which period the follower 2l will pass ofiI the sharp edge of the projection and the lever 21 will prevent furtherl movement of the escapement mechanism. The distance between projections 32 and 32b is so proportioned that the lever 21 will restrain arm 23 for a period of tive minutes before the action of projection 32b again removes the lever 21 from the path of the arm. This projection 32" may be proportioned so as to permit an alarm of twenty or thirty seconds, after which an interval of another two minutes may occur before projection 32c becomes operative to permit another sounding of the alarm, fer ten seconds. Thus, assuming the initial position of the cam 25 to be that illustrated in Fig. 3, upon the forward movement of wheel 13, the consequent release of the eseapement mechanism and rotation of cam 25 will result in a relatively short alarm for, say, ten seconds (while projection 321L is operative), then a five min nte interval, during which the user of the clock may take-a nap, then a relatively long alarm, for, say, thirty seconds, which should cause the user of the clock to arise, then a two minute interval., and then a ten second alarm. This last alarm is useful in ease the user of the clock has failed to arise at the second sounding of the alarm. Since these soundings of the alarm practically exhaust the power of the alarm spring, further rotation of the cam 25 will have no effect.

As above pointed out, some users of alarm clocks may prefer a longer nap between the first and second soundings of the alarm than others do. In order that lri'y improved clock may be readily adapted to the requirements of all. I have provided means for adjusting the initial position of cam 25. Since, as shown in Fig. 3, the distances between certain successive projections vary, this adjusting of the initial position of the cam 25 will adjust the time period elapsing between alarms. For example, assume that the projection 32'3 is initially in cooperative relation with the follower 24. The time interval between the iirst and second soundings of the alarm will then be ten minutes instead of live, since the distance between 32 and 32d is twice as great as the distance between 32a and 32". Se, also, if projection 32e is initially operative, the interval will be fifteen minutes; if B2i is initially operative, the interval will be twenty minutes; if projection 32g is initially operative, the interval will be twenty-live minutes, and if projection 32h is initially operative, the interval will be thirty minutes.

To facilitate the adjustment of the initial position of cam 25, I provide shaft 26 with an indicating disk 33 located in front of the clock dial, and having marked thereon numbers corresponding with the various intervals as'above outlined. This disk is adapted to cooperate with a stationary pointer 34 as is well understood.

In order to insure the accurate adjustment of cam 25, I provide it with a plurality of beveled grooves 35, with which the spring or clicker 36 is adapted to cooperate. Each of these grooves is located so that its abrupt edge is adapted to initially cooperate with follower 24. In this way the contact of the spring with the abrupt end of the groove insures absolutely accurate adjustment, while the beveled end of the groove permits the spring to ride out of the groove when the parts are in operation.

Some suitable thumb nut, such as is shown at 33, is provided for turning the shaft 2G to adjust the cam.

The recess 16, shown in Fig. 5, preferably7 includes a flat portion 16L of such length that the wheel 13 will remain in its forward position long enough so that any desired combination of alarms may be sounded before the cooperation of the pin 14 with the beveled face 16b returns the wheel 13 to its normal position, thereby rendering the escapement mechanism and the cam 25 again inoperative.

In Figs. 7, 3 and 9, I have illustrated a modification of my invention, whereby, in addition to the means for sounding several. alarms and adjusting the time intervals between two alarms, as above described, I provide means for ringing an intermittent alarm, means for ringing a continuous alarm, and means for selecting the particular type of alarm desired.

By the term intermittent alarm as used herein and in the claims which follow, I mean an alarm which is sounded a plurality of times at regular intervals, as distinguished from an alarm of the character above described, wherein the various intervals between successive alarms may all bev of dierent length and wherein certain of the intervals may be adjusted at will.

The time wheel, 13, striker 17', escapement mechanism, 18, 19', 20, and the means setting into opera-tion and operating the cam 25 of the modified construction may be the same as the corresponding parts above described.

The projections 32 are shown in Figs. S and 9 as extending perpendicular to the planeof the cam disk 25, instead of in the plane thereof, in order that an additional set or sets of cam projections may be provided for effecting the sounding of alarms of various characters. Otherwise the projections 32 may correspond to the projections 32 and the cam 25 may be adjusted to bring any desired projection into initial operation in the same manner as outlined above, with relation to cam 25 to vary the time period between successive alarms. The spring or clicker 36 cooperates with beveled grooves 35 to insure accurate adjustment of the cam.

As herein shown, there is provided but one additional set of projections 132 which are equally spaced so that when they are operative they will effect the sounding of an intermittent alarm.

Because of the modified construction of the cam disk 25, the lever 21, carrying the pin or follower 24, which cooperates with the projections 32 and the lever 121, carrying the pin or follower 124, which cooperates with the projections 132, are of slightly different form from the lever 21, and are mounted on a vertical pivot p, as shown in Fig. 7. rl`he levers 21l and 121, however, operate in substantially the same manner as lever 21, z'. e., they are held in the path of the depending arm 23 by springs 22 and 122 when it is necessary to prevent the operation of the escapement mechanism, and` are removed from the path of the arm by the cam projections, to permit the operation of the escapeinent mechanism and the sounding of the alarm.

The means for selecting the particular character of alarm desired may comprise :t longitudinally adjustable cam bar such as is shown at 40 in Figs. 7 and 8. This bar is provided near the top with a cam 41 whichL is adapted to cooperate with either one of the levers 21 and 121 to hold the corresponding pin 24 or 124 out of contact with the cam projections 32 or 132, and hold the opposite end of the lever out of the path of arm 23. As shown in Figs. S and 9, lever 121 is held ineffective so that the adjustable alarm will be sounded under control of lever 21 in substantially the samehmanner as described with respect to Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

In order to facilitate the adjustment of bar 40, I provide it at the bottom with a rack 42 with which a pinion 43 mounted on shaft 44 cooperates. A suitable thumb nut 45 is secured to the end of shaft 44 so that the shaft and pinion may be tuined to effect the desired movement of bar 40. In this way the cam 41 may be caused to render lever 21 ineffective, but permit the effective operation of lever 121 to cause the ringing of an intermittent alarm. Also, the bar 40 may be elevated still farther until the portion -Ll-(S thereof renders both of the levers 21 and 121 ineffective, holding them out of the path of arm 23. The result of such an adjustment is, obviously, to effect the sounding of a continuous alarm.

It is apparent from the foregoing, that in the last described embodiment of lmy invention, I have provided means for `adjusting an alarm sounding mechanism to cause the sounding of alarms of Valmost any desired character'. -I-Iowever, it isto be understood that my4 invention is Anot limited to the sounding vof alarms of the particular varieties described, nor to any particular number of varieties, since the cam projections 32, 132 may be of any desired configuration and since any desired number of sets of such projections and levers controlled thereby, may be provided.

In case more than two levers are used in the construction shown in Fig. 7,. the position of the levers should be such that the pins or followers carried thereby are in line with each other along a vertical diameter of the disk.

While I have illustrated herein but two embodiments of my invention, -it is to be understood that I .do not wish to limit myself to these particular embodiments, since obviously, many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim and desire to obtain by Letters Patent the following:

l. In an alarm clock, the combination with means for sounding' an alarm at a predetermined time, of -mechanism for effecting a second sounding of the alarm, said mechanism including means settable prior to the first sounding' of the alarm for determining the length of time elapsing between the first and second soundings of said alarm.

2. In an alarm clock, the combination with means for sounding an alarm at a predetermined time, ef mechanism-for effecting a second and third sounding of the alarm, said mechanism including means settable prior to the first sounding of the alarm, for determining the length of time elapsing between two of the soundings of said alarm.

3. In an alarm clock, the combination with means for sounding an alarm at a predetermined time, of means for restraining the operation of the alarm sounding means, controlling means for rendering the said restraining means effective to terminate the sounding of the alarm after a given time period, and for again rendering said restraining means ineffective after another time period to permit the second sounding' of the alarm, and means settable prior to the first sounding of the alarm for adjusting said controlling means to thereby vary said last mentioned time period.

4L. In an alarm clock, the combination witlrmeans for sounding an alarm at a predetermined time, of means for restraining the operation of the alarm sounding means, controlling means for rendering said restraining means effective to terminate the sounding of the alarm after a given time period, for again rendering said restraining means ineffective after another time period to permit the second sounding of the alarm, for again rendering said restraining means effective after another time period to terminate the second sounding of the alarm and for again rendering said restraining means ineffective to permit the third sounding of the alarm, and means settable prior to the first sounding of the alarm for adjusting said controlling means to vary the time period elapsing between two of the soundings of said alarm.

5. In an alarm clock, the combination with `means for sounding an alarm at a predetermined time, of means for restraining the operation of the alarm sounding means, controlling means including a cam provided with a plurality of irregularly spaced projections for rendering said restraining means effective to terminate the sounding of the alarm after a given time period, and for again rendering said restraining means ineffective after another time period to permit the second sounding of the alarm, means for setting said controlling means into operation substantially simultaneously with the first sounding of the alarm, and means for adjusting the initial position of said cam to thereby vary said last mentioned time period.

6. In an alarm clock, the combination with means for sounding an alarm at a predetermined time, of a pivoted lever' for rcstraining the operation of the alarm sounding means, controlling means for rockingr said lever: to terminate the sounding of the alarm after a given time period and for again rocking said lever after another time period to permit the second sounding of the alarm, and means settable prior to the first sounding of the alarm for adjusting said controlling means to vary said last mentioned time period.

7. In an alarm clock, the combination with means for sounding an alarm at a predetermined time, of a pivoted lever for restraining the operation of the alarm sounding means, controlling means including a cam provided with a plurality of irregularly spaced projections for rocking said lever to terminate the sounding of the alarm after a given time period and for again rocking said lever after another time period to permit the second sounding of the alarm, means for setting said controlling means into operation substantially simultaneously with the first sounding of the alarm, and means for adjusting the initial position of said cam to thereby vary said last mentioned time period.

8. In an alarm clock, the combination with means for sounding an alarm at a predetermined time, of mechanism for efl'ecting a second sounding of the alarm, said mechanism including means settable brior 15G to the first sounding of the alarm, for determining the length of time elapsing between the first and second soundings of' the alarm, and means for rendering said mechanism ineffective to thereby effect the continuous sounding of the alarm.

9. In an alarm clock, the combination with means for sounding an alarml at a predetermined time, of mechanism for effecting the second sounding of the alarm and for adjusting the length of time elapsing between said alarms, other mechanism for effecting the intermittent sounding of the alarm, and means for rendering either of said mechanisms effective or ineffective at will.

10. In an alarm clock, the combination with means for sounding an alarm at a predetermined time, of mechanism for effecting the second sounding of the alarm and for adjusting the length of time elapsing between said alarms, other mechanism for effecting the intermittent sounding of the alarm, means normally tending to render both of said mechanisms effective, and a single means for rendering either of said mechanisms ineffective, or for rendering both of said mechanisms ineective to thereby cause the continuous sounding of the alarm.

11. In an alarm clock, the combination with means for sounding an alarm at a predetermined time, oi' means for restraining the operation of the alarm sounding means, controlling means for rendering said restraining means effective to terminate the sounding of the alarm after a given time period and for again rendering sald restraining means ineffective after another time period to permit the second sounding of the alarm, means for adjusting said controlling means to vary said last mentioned time period, additional means for restraining the operation of the alarm sounding means, controlling means for rendering said last mentioned restraining means alternately ineffective and effective, whereby the alarm is sounded intermittently, and means for rendering eitlier or both of said restraining means continuously ineiective.

12. In an alarm clock, the combination with means for sounding an alarm at a predetermined time, of a lever for restraining the operation of the alarm sounding means, means for rocking said lever to permit the sounding of an alarm of a predetermined character, a second restraining lever, means for rocking said second lever to permit the sounding of an alarm of a different character, and manually adjustable means whereby the alarm sounding means may be placed under the control of either of said levers and relieved of the control of the other, or may be relieved of the control of both of said levers, as desired. j

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ZOLTAN KARDOS. Witnesses:

A. C. PARHAM, M. M. RIEMANN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

